Comparative psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes of organisms, including humans. Until Darwin published his theory of evolution, it was commonly accepted that a huge gulf exists between human and nonhuman animals. In this course we will examine human and animal behavior and mental activity from an evolutionary perspective, that is, from a perspective in which humans are part of the continuum of life forms that inhabit the planet. We will consider the notion that, in contrast to the usual anthropocentric view of behavior and mental processes, many of the same evolutionary and ecological principles explain both human and animal behavior. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or NEUR 112/212 or PSYC 100 and PSYC 150. This course is offered at least every other year. This course is crosslisted with Psychology for diversification purposes.

This methods course teaches students the skills necessary for conducting research in sensation and perception. It will give students first-hand experience with a number of concepts and measurement techniques as well as an understanding of the ways in which sensory psychologists investigate how the brain gathers, processes, and interprets information from the external environment in order to construct an internal representation of reality. Students will learn to design experiments; collect, analyze, and present data using computer software packages; and write a scientific paper. Prerequisites: NEUR 112 or PSYC 200 and previous or concurrent enrollment in either PSYC 301, PSYC 305, or PSYC 307 as well as permission of the instructor. This course is typically offered every other year. This course is crosslisted with Psychology for diversification purposes.

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. In this introductory course, which is a prerequisite for all of the other psychology courses, you will explore a variety of areas in which psychologists conduct research. For example, you will study the biological foundations of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, cognition, learning and memory, developmental psychology, personality and social psychology, psychological disorders, and variability in behavior related to culture. The course is for first-year students and sophomores. Multiple sections are offered every semester.

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. In this introductory course, which is a prerequisite for all of the other psychology courses, you will explore a variety of areas in which psychologists conduct research. For example, you will study the biological foundations of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, cognition, learning and memory, developmental psychology, personality and social psychology, psychological disorders, and variability in behavior related to culture. The course is for first-year students and sophomores. Multiple sections are offered every semester.

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. In this introductory course, which is a prerequisite for all of the other psychology courses, you will explore a variety of areas in which psychologists conduct research. For example, you will study the biological foundations of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, cognition, learning and memory, developmental psychology, personality and social psychology, psychological disorders, and variability in behavior related to culture. The course is for first-year students and sophomores. Multiple sections are offered every semester.

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes. In this introductory course, which is a prerequisite for all of the other psychology courses, you will explore a variety of areas in which psychologists conduct research. For example, you will study the biological foundations of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, cognition, learning and memory, developmental psychology, personality and social psychology, psychological disorders, and variability in behavior related to culture. The course is for first-year students and sophomores. Multiple sections are offered every semester.

In this course students will learn the basics of research in psychology. Students will participate in research projects conducted across different areas of psychology which might involve observation and interviewing, psychological tests and measures, physiological measures, and computerized tasks. Students will learn about issues of reliability and validity in psychological research, as well as ethical issues associated with psychological research. Students will learn techniques for descriptive statistical analysis of their data, and they will communicate their research findings both orally and in writing, using the writing style of the American Psychological Association. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 (or AP score of 5). This course is designed for first-year and sophomore students and is typically offered every semester.

In this course students will learn the basics of research in psychology. Students will participate in research projects conducted across different areas of psychology which might involve observation and interviewing, psychological tests and measures, physiological measures, and computerized tasks. Students will learn about issues of reliability and validity in psychological research, as well as ethical issues associated with psychological research. Students will learn techniques for descriptive statistical analysis of their data, and they will communicate their research findings both orally and in writing, using the writing style of the American Psychological Association. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 (or AP score of 5). This course is designed for first-year and sophomore students and is typically offered every semester.

In this course, students will learn to conduct a variety of statistical tests that are commonly used in psychological research. In addition, the skills of choosing the appropriate statistical tests for particular research designs, and writing and interpreting the results of statistical analyses, will be emphasized. The computer statistical package SPSS will be used. Psychology majors have preference. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 and PSYC 150. This course is typically offered every semester.

This course provides students with an introductory overview of the nature, causes, and treatment of adolescent and adult mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and organic mental disorders. Included there will be discussion of critical issues and controversies in this field, such as the definition of abnormality and the labeling of abnormal behavior. Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and PSYC 102 or PSYC 100. This course is typically offered every year.

This course involves the study of cognitive, developmental, and motivational processes that underlie education. We also examine teacher behavior and other applications of psychology to education. Research and theory on student learning, motivation, and development provide the core readings for the course. Individual and group differences as applied to learning environments will be addressed. Other topics include multicultural education, achievement motivation, special education, public policy with respect to education, education outside of schools, and recent trends in schools and education. Students will develop their own teaching philosophy. Connections among a variety of disciplines (e.g., history, sociology political science) will be stressed, as well as links to the real world beyond the classroom. This course is appropriate for those interested in teaching, coaching, or mentoring. Prerequisite:PSYC 100 or PSYC 102.

Social psychology is the systematic study of social behavior. In general, it examines how we are affected by our social environment: how we perceive and interpret the behavior of others and the social situation, how we respond to others and they to us, and the nature of social relationships. Application of social psychological theory and methodology is encouraged through participation in small-scale laboratory or field observational studies. Prerequisites: PSYC 100 or PSYC 102. This course is typically offered every year.

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the field of clinical psychology. Through readings, videos, discussion, and in class role-plays you will be exposed to the major therapeutic orientations in psychology (including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and person-centered therapy) as well as newer schools of interventions (including feminist therapy, multicultural counseling, and community psychology). In addition, we will cover other areas in clinical psychology, such as testing and assessment, and the difficulties involved in the assessment of others. A special area of focus in this course will be forensic psychology. Case studies from the instructor's experience as a therapist will be used throughout the course to further highlight the material. This course is best suited for students who are considering applying to graduate school in clinical psychology. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 or PSYC 102. Recommended but not required: PSYC 321. This course is typically offered every other year.

This course will focus on the application of psychology to social settings and social services. We will examine a selection of social problems and the influence of social systems on individuals. In addition to regular class meetings, students will spend six out-of-class hours each week at a local community agency (e.g., Knox County Head Start). Students will integrate these service experiences with course-related material. Prerequisites:PSYC 100 or PSYC 102. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors. This course is typically offered every year in the fall.

The course will cover the biological mechanisms of various classes of drugs as well as the psychological and societal effects of drug use and abuse. Topics will range from pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of action in the brain through the effects of drugs on learning, memory, and motivation. Attention will be given also to the role of drugs in mediating and treating pathology. Prerequisite: PSYC 100

This course is designed with three specific goals: (1) to provide an understanding of basic research and design; (2) to cover basic issues in the field of cognitive psychology; and (3) to give students hands-on experience with some of the classic experiments in the field. The course will include lectures and discussion, as well as laboratory exercises in which students will participate in computerized experiments, collect data, and learn how cognitive psychologists make inferences about mental processes using observable performance measures. The course also requires students to create their own research proposal and present it in class.Prerequisites: PSYC 200 and PSYC 301, or PSYC 306. This course is typically offered every year.

This course will examine a variety of methodologies used by psychologists who conduct research in the area of personality and individual differences. The course includes lectures, discussions, and assignments designed to give students hands-on experience in designing research, collecting and analyzing data, and relating their work to larger theories. During the course, students will also learn how to design research that is ethical, how to critically evaluate research, and how to write professional reports in the style developed by the American Psychological Association. Prerequisites include: PSYC 200 and either PSYC 326 or PSYC 321 or PSYC 346. This course is typically offered every other year.

Students conducting advanced research in psychology will work with a faculty member and possibly a small group of students to conduct research in the faculty member’s research area. Students will critically analyze published research in the topic area; and collect, analyze and write reports on data they have collected with a small group of students. Students will be expected to work independently and collaboratively, and there will be an emphasis on effective written and oral communication. Students who enroll in two semesters of advanced research on a particular topic can substitute this experience for a research methods course (on that topic; e.g., two semesters of advanced research in personality counts the same as one semester of research methods in personality). Prerequisites: PSYC 150, PSYC 200, and permission of the instructor.

The psychology senior seminar is a required course for senior psychology majors. Each section will have a different topic, but in every seminar students will read and discuss psychological literature, write and discuss critiques of research articles, develop a review paper on a topic in psychology, develop a research proposal on a topic in psychology, and make a formal oral presentation to the class. Classes will be limited to 10-12 students. Prerequisites: Senior psychology major status. Offered every fall.

The psychology senior seminar is a required course for senior psychology majors. Each section will have a different topic, but in every seminar students will read and discuss psychological literature, write and discuss critiques of research articles, develop a review paper on a topic in psychology, develop a research proposal on a topic in psychology, and make a formal oral presentation to the class. Classes will be limited to 10-12 students. Prerequisites: Senior psychology major status. Offered every fall.

The psychology senior seminar is a required course for senior psychology majors. Each section will have a different topic, but in every seminar students will read and discuss psychological literature, write and discuss critiques of research articles, develop a review paper on a topic in psychology, develop a research proposal on a topic in psychology, and make a formal oral presentation to the class. Classes will be limited to 10-12 students. Prerequisites: Senior psychology major status. Offered every fall.

This is a program for senior candidates for honors in psychology, culminating in a senior honors thesis. The course will consist of a research project in some area of psychology. A student who wishes to conduct an honors project must meet each of the following three criteria: (1) the student must have a GPA of 3.5 in psychology and an overall GPA of 3.3; (2) the student must have participated in a psychology-department-approved research experience (which might be research in a research methods course, independent study, or summer lab work); and (3) the student must have completed a minimum of 4 units in psychology and have taken the appropriate core courses for the proposal before the senior year. It is also recommended that the student have had exposure to calculus and other courses within the Natural Sciences Division.